The fate of the Canadian GP to be decided in 24 hours

The city of Montreal is expected to announce tomorrow if it will provide the necessary funds to ensure the return of the Canadian Grand Prix to the 2009 schedule.

Government officials met with Bernie Ecclestone last week to try to negotiate the organization of a Grand Prix next year. Montreal Mayor Gérald Tremblay described the meeting in Canadian newspapers as encouraging and constructive but did not disclose the amount to be paid for the race’s reintegration.

Even if the government settles the contractual dispute with Ecclestone, promoters still need to be found for the future event as the previous ones have withdrawn.

George Gillett, who supports the Montreal ice hockey team, has been linked to the race but has not been confirmed.

Gillett had a foot in Champ Car when the series still existed by being co-owner of the Gillett Evernham Motorsports team, which included cars No. 9, 19, and more recently 10, driven by Kasey Kahne, Elliot Sadler, and AJ Allmendinger.